Are You Tired Of The Politics? Tired Of The Games? Either you will love me or hate me. I honestly don't care. I hate the fence and think more American's Need To GET off of it!
"I am only one
But I am still one.
I cannot do everything.
But I can still do something.
And because I cannot do everything
I will not refuse to do the something that I can do." Edward Everett Hale

"No great genius has ever existed without some touch of madness." Aristotle

Subscribe Now: myy

Subscribe Now: google

Subscribe Now: feedlounge

Subscribe Now: myaol

Subscribe Now: netvibes

Subscribe Now: bloglines

Friday, June 22, 2007

I read about this the other day, and have remained silent up until now about this issue.First of all, I just want to extend a thanks to all you morons in the White House.Thank you for already extending my love, twice. Thank you for keeping him over there longer. Thank you for robbing his children of their father. Thank you for subjecting him to sights that no one should see, day in day out. Thank you for allowing him to spend over 27 months out of the last 36 months in that land of sand (by the time he gets home). Thank you for underpaying him. Thank you for the stress. Thank you for the stolen time, the stolen memories. Thank you for making it near impossible for him to leave the military if he wanted to, by instituting stop-losses. Thank YOU!I just want to congratulate you all on your sacrifice and service to this country. I am sure, all of "us" citizens of this great country appreciate the fact that you personally (or a family member) has put on the uniform, has sacrificed your family and put your life on hold. We appreciate the fact that you have missed the births of your children, their first steps, graduations, deaths in your family, birthdays, holidays, anniversaries, etc. We DO appreciate that sacrifice! And now, now that you are considering extending our loved ones even more than the fifteen months, I just want to say thanks. I really didn't want to see him anyways. I have enjoyed the limited communication, the constant worrying whether he is safe, the loneliness of the night, having my best friend and lover not by my side. I have, no really, I have enjoyed it! Every fucking moment of it. And let me tell you what else I am going to love, getting reacquainted with him once he gets home. I am just hoping that he will not have changed to much. I hope that he is strong enough to deal with everything he has seen. I just hope that you will actually stay true to your word and allow him to be home for at least a year, before you send him over there again. Thank you for robbing us. Thank you for forgetting the needs of everyone other than the need to line your pockets. Thank you for your selfishness. " A Pissed Off American"

The Pentagon could extend combat tours in Iraq despite an official report showing that hundreds of thousands of US troops who have been involved in at least one war zone in Iraq or Afghanistan are experiencing serious psychological problems, including post-traumatic stress disorder.

According to the Pentagon's own mental health taskforce, US troops have been undertaking higher levels of sustained combat duty than that experienced by soldiers during the war in Vietnam and in the second world war.

It found that 38% of soldiers, 31% of marines, 49% of national guard members and 43% of marine reservists showed symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder or other psychological problems within three months of returning from active duty. Its report also noted inadequate mental healthcare and facilities, and prejudice over mental health problems.

The US has about 155,000 troops in Iraq, most of whom typically spend 15 months in combat zones with a guaranteed 12 months at home. But that is a breach of the Pentagon's own rules saying equal time should be spent on and off duty.

This week, Peter Geren, acting army secretary, told Congress that extended stints of frontline duty could be ordered if President Bush opted to push the 30,000-strong troop surge in Iraq beyond September. The senate armed services committee heard that while no decisions had been made, plans had to be started.

Yesterday, Vice-Admiral Donald Arthur, co-chairman of the Pentagon's mental health taskforce, said there was "no doubt" that more numerous and lengthier deployments were exacerbating mental health problems. "Not since Vietnam have we seen this level of combat," he said.The taskforce's report said symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury - the two "signature injuries" associated with service in Iraq and Afghanistan - included anger and substance abuse. And soldiers' reticence meant the problem was probably greater than research indicated. The report also questioned the practice of returning troops to frontline duty while they were taking medication such as lithium or Prozac.

A cut in combat duties to lessen psychological stress was also urged by an army study based on research in Iraq last year. But that proposal was rejected this week by a senior aide to the ground forces commander in Iraq. Brigadier-General Joseph Anderson told USA Today: "We would never get the job done."